ALMOST three years ago to this very day, there was heartbreak.

The day Warrington Town were supposed to take the next step up the footballing pyramid had arrived, and it was duly wrecked.

As King’s Lynn Town celebrated winning the one-off ‘super play-off’ on that sunny day at Cantilever Park, there was desolation among those in yellow.

Warrington Guardian:

Dejection for Warrington Town following their 'super play-off' loss to King's Lynn Town in 2019. Picture by Mike Boden

From that very moment, players, staff, officials and fans have pulled together to drag their club through a global pandemic and its devastating financial impact in the hope their chance may come again.

Even up until Tuesday night, they may not have expected it to come so soon, but here it is. Once again, they stand on the brink of a place in the National League North.

The cards are stacked more considerably against them this time around – they will need to win on the road against a side that are unbeaten on home soil since November, have lost just twice since the turn of the year and own two regular-season victories over Town this campaign.

Not only that, but no side has won promotion from the Northern Premier League’s top flight having finished fifth since play-offs were introduced in 2004.

So it is fair to say that if Town do pull it off this afternoon, it will be a historic effort on several counts.

While everything seems set up for Scarborough Athletic, none of this can enter the minds of the players.

At the end of the day, it is 11 versus 11 in a 90-minute – or 120 and beyond if needed – football match. One they are more than capable of winning.

Tuesday night’s memorable semi-final win over South Shields just what this group of players is capable of when minds are focused and the gameplan is executed to the letter.

Confidence will be sky-high having pulled off the seemingly impossible in that game and with experienced campaigners such as Mark Roberts, Jay Harris and Bohan Dixon driving on talented youngsters like Jordan Buckley, Stefan Mols and Dan Atherton, they have a potent blend.

Warrington Guardian:

The celebrations that followed Tuesday's semi-final victory at South Shields. Picture by Kev Wilson

They will have to have got their recovery right having played 120 gruelling minutes to get to this point plus three lengthy coach journeys both to and from South Shields and up to Scarborough, but this is a group that prepares diligently.

The tantalising prospect of potential matches against the likes of York City, Chester and Southport next season is enough of a carrot to dangle, but plenty in Town’s inner circle will still be wanting to put that day against King’s Lynn right.

Manager Mark Beesley was assistant to Paul Carden back then. Roberts was still captain, current assistant manager Dave Raven was his centre-back partner.

Bohan Dixon and Jack Mackreth started that day, Josh Amis came off the bench and Mitch Duggan was an unused substitute.

And that is not to mention chairman Toby Macormac, his wife Lisa and the rest of the dedicated people who invest their own time and money into making sure the club runs smoothly.

Having gone through the hurt of that day, they will be keener than most to finish the job this time and that level of motivation can be extremely powerful.

If harnessed properly, it could turn out to be one of the finest days for football in this town.